Finding Velocity for the Sweep-Second Hand of a Clock

AI Thread Summary
To find the average velocity and acceleration of a clock's sweep-second hand, the length of the hand is 3.1 cm, and the time interval is 5 seconds. The average velocity can be calculated by determining the distance traveled in that time, which involves calculating the angle the hand moves through. The hand completes a full rotation (360 degrees or 2 Pi radians) in 60 seconds, allowing for the calculation of distance over 5 seconds. The average acceleration can then be derived from the average velocity, and it is noted that the angle between the average velocity and acceleration vectors is 90 degrees, as they are always perpendicular. This approach effectively clarifies the problem-solving process for the given physics question.
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Homework Statement



The sweep-second hand of a clock is 3.1 cm long.
What are the magnitude of (a) the average
velocity and (b) the average acceleration of the
hand’s tip over a 5.0-s interval? (c)what is the angel between the average velocity and acceleration vectors?


Homework Equations


a= v2/r


The Attempt at a Solution


Ok so I have been working on this problem for about an hour and its starting to annoy me I can't seem to find the velocity vector since I am not given a time frame besides the one for the acceleration. I know that I can find acceleration as soon as I find velocity but I don't have any formulas or any thought on how to go about solving for average velocity. I also know that the answer for part c is 90 degrees since they are always perpendicular so really its just part a that is giving me so much trouble.
 
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Here are a couple of hints: (1) The time frame for the velocity and the acceleration is the same: 5 sec. (2) Find the distance that the tip of the second hand travels in 5 sec. You can do this by knowing that it travels 360 degrees, or 2 Pi radians in 60 seconds. From that tells you can figure out the angle it travels in 5 sec. Then use Distance = radius times angle (in radians). That allows you to calculate the velocity and so on.
 
AEM said:
Here are a couple of hints: (1) The time frame for the velocity and the acceleration is the same: 5 sec. (2) Find the distance that the tip of the second hand travels in 5 sec. You can do this by knowing that it travels 360 degrees, or 2 Pi radians in 60 seconds. From that tells you can figure out the angle it travels in 5 sec. Then use Distance = radius times angle (in radians). That allows you to calculate the velocity and so on.

This was extremely helpful I forgot that you could find it in this way thank you so much.
 
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